Thomas R. Shirley

May 22, 2013

Thomas R. Shirley, 81, of Kingsland, formerly of Big Spring, died Saturday, May 18, 2013, at the Windchime at the Village in Kingsland. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2013, at the Peace Chapel at Trinity Memorial Park with the Rev. James "Jakie" Shirley, Tom's brother, officiating.

Tom will lie in state at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home from Tuesday until service time Thursday.

Tom was born Sept. 4, 1931 in Big Spring, Texas to Hollis and Mary (Robinson) Shirley. He grew up in the Sand Springs area and graduated from Coahoma High School. He married Lorraine Elizabeth Ludwig Aug. 8, 1951, in Great Falls, Mont., where he was stationed with the U.S. Air Force. They moved back to Big Spring in 1952 and he worked at Cosden/Fina Refinery until his retirement in 1986.

Tom and Lorraine then moved to Kingsland, Texas in 2008. Tom was a Master Mason and a member of Staked Plains Lodge No. 598, AF & AM of Big Spring. Tom and Lorraine enjoyed 20 years of retirement together traveling in their RV to see relatives in Missouri, Montana, Washington, Texas and Arizona. An outdoorsman, Tom enjoyed deer hunting, gulf coast fishing, gardening and woodworking. He was an excellent gardener and enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labor with family and friends. His grandchildren have many fond memories of helping their Grandpa in his garden. Tom loved sharing his woodworking shop and abilities with his son and son-in-law. He also enjoyed music and his collection of musical instruments included guitar, fiddles, banjo, mandolin, keyboard and bass fiddle.

Pallbearers will be Tom J. Shirley, Steve Fraser, Randy Law, Matthew Fraser, Taylor Fraser and Blair Nutting.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Anne Law and husband, Randy of Agency, Mo. and Karen Fraser and husband, Steve of Kingsland; one son, Tom J. Shirley and wife, Lori of Richmond; 11 grandchildren, Kristi Bongers and husband, Peter of San Diego, Calif., Valerie Law of Overland Park, Kan., Matthew Fraser and wife, Whitney of Austin; Lauren Nutting and husband, Blair of San Antonio, Taylor Fraser of Fredericksburg, and Payton Shirley, Pierson Shirley, Berkley Shirley, Connor Corporron, McKenna Corporron, and Calie Corporron all of Richmond; three great-grandchildren, Nicholis Law Bongers and Brooklyn Marie Bongers of San Diego, Calif., and Olivia Lorraine Nutting of San Antonio; one brother, the Rev. James "Jakie" Shirley and wife, Dottie of Salado, Texas; and one brother-in-law, Al Goodson of Texas City, Texas.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; one sister, Ovella Goodson; and one brother, Don Shirley.

The family would like to thank the staff and aides of Windchime At the Village, 216 Covenant Dr, Kingsland, TX 78639 and the Seton Highland Lakes Hospice, PO Box 1219, Burnet, TX, 78611. The family suggests memorials to these organizations or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com